Tag Archives: Cats

Much Needed Time Away

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! It is ten fifteen at night in my corner of the world. Currently, I am in Bremerton, Washington. I decided to take a ferry here from Seattle and stay the night. As much as I love living in Seattle, sometimes city life can get a bit overwhelming so I am staying the night in a hotel on Bremerton’s waterfront.

Even though I am only going to be gone tonight, I am having a neighbor who has become a good friend look in on my cat, Billie Dean. Yes, I realize Billie will be okay with me just being gone overnight, I just wanted to make sure nothing happens. Plus my neighbor really likes Billie. I know from becoming friends with my neighbor that he really loves cats and it always brightens his day when I take Billie to say hi to him. So, having my neighbor check on Billie not only eases my mind but helps this good friend.

I know what I have done here in Bremerton is something I could do at home however just getting a break from the everyday things is helpful. One of the things I have done is read. I am reading a Star Wars book. A book that has me very engrossed and engaged. I read the Star Wars book outside for about an hour on Bremerton’s waterfront and enjoyed every minute of it.

After reading, I went out to dinner which was nice. The food at the restaurant, I went to was great which is why I went. Every time I come to Bremerton, I try to eat at the restaurant I at tonight. I highly recommend Bremerton Bar and Grill if you are ever in Bremerton, Washington.

Once I got back to my hotel room after eating dinner, I decided to do some art work. Actually, the type of art I did was color. Coloring is more portable than other forms of art or at least for me it is. I love to color and it helps me get into a positive state of mind.

As I was coloring I decided to listen to one of my favorite podcast on the subject of philosophy. The podcast I listened to as I colored was Philosophize This. The way the podcaster, Stephen West discusses philosophy makes the subject interesting and easy to comprehend. Or at least that is my person opinion of Philosophize This.

I do not have much more to talk about in this blog post except that I really needed this time away and miss my cat, Billie. Before, I end the post, I want to thank you for reading my blog. I am greatly appreciative that you read my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. I hope everyone has a great Tuesday night. I also hope you all get a good night of sleep. Good Night and Peace Out, World. Don’t let the bed bugs bite.

Combating Depression

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! I am feeling slightly depressed. I am not exactly sure why my depression symptoms are acting up but they are. Depression sucks just like any mental health diagnosis. I just wish it didn’t exist but it does.

Right now, the things that appear to be helping seem to be so basic to those who don’t struggle with a mental health challenge. Sometimes its the simple and most basic things in life that are the most helpful. Or at least helpful for me.

For me one of the first basic things I do is take care of my cat, Billie Dean. First, I feed Billie. After feeding Billie, I then do the first of two daily cleanings of his litter box. After Billie is done eating and the litter box gets cleaned out, I then put on Billie’s new harness and leash on him and we go for a walk in the second floor hallway and the first floor common areas such as the lobby and community room. Billie appears to be scared when outside and most likely due to the freeway noise and hoping that with brief outside moments will help but I will not force it unless there is an emergency like the fire alarm going off. Billie really does like to explore and smell everything. Taking care of Billie and his needs helps me take care of myself.

Another basic thing I do for myself is to do art work. Today, the type of art work I have been doing is coloring. Yes, I know it seems quite basic and some might even call it “childish” but I don’t care as it helps me deal with things such as my depression. There is something calming and meditative about coloring. I enjoy coloring a great deal as it is one of the most simplest art forms there is to express yourself.

As I colored, I listened to a podcast. A podcast about philosophy. Specifically, I listened to Philosophize This by Stephen West. In fact Philosophize This is the first podcast I ever started listening to. I started listening to it on Spotify and still listen to it. I enjoy listening to it and how Stephen West presents Philosophy. He makes philosophy to understand and puts it into simple term. Another thing is that he is from Seattle which I find cool especially since I live in Seattle.

I do not have much more to discuss in this particular blog post. I want to thank you all for reading my blog. I am greatly appreciative that you do read my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. I hope everyone has a great day. I also hope everyone has a great week ahead of them. Peace Out, World!!!

Been Exposed & Under Self Quarantine

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! It has been a few weeks since I last blogged. There are multiple reasons why I have blogged as well as many excuses but neither the reason or excuse really matter at this moment in time. Or at least they don’t matter to me at the moment.

A lot has happened in the last week alone. I found out last Thursday (July 16th) that I was exposed to Covid-19 the last time I worked which was on Saturday, July 11th. A client of the homeless shelter I work at test positive and am grateful that this person is now at a quarantine site here in the Seattle area.

Anyway since I was exposed, I am under self quarantine and am getting tested later on today (Monday). I made the appointment to get tested right after finding out I was exposed. Another good thing regarding all this is that I had already had a virtual appointment with my doctor made for this past Friday (July 17th) which made it easy for me to talk to my doctor about what to expect regarding the test. She also informed me that she didn’t want me to go work on Saturday (July 18th) till I get tested and the results come back as negative. I informed her that my employer was being very insistent with me going into work to do my regular shift. She and I discussed that if I get fired over going against doctors orders in the midst of a pandemic will make my employer “look bad and is grounds for a lawsuit.” I am just grateful that she has my back and wrote me a note for work. She also advised me to self quarantine which is a no brainer.

Since I am under quarantine till I get tested and the results, I will be spending a lot of time at home. At least I will have my cat, Billie Dean with me. I am so happy that I have Billie especially right now. My doctor and I came up with a plan on things I can do to make sure my mental health doesn’t decline while in self quarantine. We discussed a great deal about my cat Billie Dean and how he will be helpful. I told my doctor that I have plenty of art projects I can do especially in the coloring and collaging genres. I also informed her that I have a lot of reading to catch up on. This brought up the topic of our love of reading and the books I am hoping to read. I also mentioned that I have movies I want to watch and she even suggested some that I might be interested in. We discussed music as well. Specifically we discussed me not playing my flute or harmonica just in case I am positive. This will be challenging for me to do as playing one of my musical instruments especially my flute has been a life saver for me when things get challenging for me. We did discuss that listening to music is an option and will be used. We also discussed me keeping in touch with my therapist and that she will reach out to my therapist and I informed her that I already did which she wasn’t surprised about.

Anyway, my therapist to get back to me this past Friday after talking with my doctor. He was grateful that she and I, both reached out to him regarding me being exposed. We basically discussed similar things my doctor and I talked about regarding keeping myself busy. The last thing he and my doctor want is my mental health to decline while in self quarantine and I don’t blame them. I am worried as well. I am also grateful that we will be doing daily check-ins till I get my test results back. If they come back negative then the daily check-ins will discontinue and I hope my test results will come back negative.

Anyway, I don’t have much more to say. Thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you read my blog. I hope everyone has a great Monday ahead. Peace Out, World!!!

4th of July

Posted on by Gertie

Happy 4th of July, World!!! Yes, I know the 4th of July is an American holiday but I just wanted to wish everyone a happy fourth. I, normally don’t mind the Fourth of July but this year I am slightly irritated by it. I think I am irritated by it because the symptoms of my mental health diagnosis have increased which is why I am not going into work today. I informed my employer that due to my disability I can not go into work today. Thankfully, they appear to be okay with it especially since they were able to get coverage for my shift.

As much as I wish my mental health symptoms weren’t acting up, in a weird way I am glad they are. I am glad they are because my neighbor has been shooting off bottle rockets and other fireworks in front of the building as well as on the community patio which I have windows over looking both. Billie Dean my cat is not a big fan of the fireworks being so close. Billie doesn’t appear to be bothered when the fireworks are farther away but when they are just outside our window then he minds especially since we live on the second floor. It is illegal to set off fireworks in Seattle and my neighbor has been setting them off since Thursday evening. Sadly, the Seattle Police are not doing shit about them. What good does having laws in place when they are not enforce them? I know the police have higher priority calls to take care of but if something happens like a fire or an injury they they will have to respond. All I know is if a bottle rocket hits my window and causes damage, I will not be a happy camper.

I best be going as I am getting angry and don’t want to rant as if I do my anger might increase. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you read my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. I hope everyone has a great weekend. Peace Out, World!!!

Frustration With Depression

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! Right now I am frustrated. I am frustrated with depression symptoms creeping in especially since I have had a relatively okay type of day. I am grateful for the things that I have done today.

The things that have been helping a great deal are my cat, Billie Dean. Billie has been quite “helpful” with helping me color meaning that he happily lays down on the picture I am trying to color. I kind of find it funny that he does this as he is just trying to help me deal with the emotions I am dealing with. I love the fact the Billie is doing what he is suppose to do as my Emotional Support Animal (ESA).

As I colored today, with the help of Billie, I also listened to a podcast about philosophy. The specific philosophy I am listening to is Philosophize This. I really enjoy this podcast and am trying to get to the most recent airing of the podcast but I know it will take me a while to do that but I am okay with that. I love to learn new things and feel like I am learning new things as I listen to Philosophize This. I will encourage anyone to listen to this particular podcast.

I do not have much more to say in this particular blog post. I just want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you read my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. I hope everyone has great night head of them. I also hope that you have a great night of sleep if you are not working. If you are working I hope you have a great night at work. Peace Out, World!!!

June Gloom = A Blah Type of Day

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! It is a typical Seattle June Gloom type of day. With the June Gloom day and how I am feeling, it is a blah type of day. It is a type of day where I need to be aware of how I am doing as days like this can easily turn into days where my depression acts up. I do think that days like today are needed from time to time. Sometimes days like today are meant to be lazy type of days.

Earlier today, I had a phone session with my psychiatric nurse practitioner (ANRP) and we discuss things that have been going on in my life and meds. My psychiatric nurse practitioner is a sweet woman and am greatly appreciative of her and how she listens. She increase the dosing of my sleep med in hopes of helping me sleep. I also now see her every six week instead of every four weeks which means she thinks I am doing better and I agree with her assessment.

After my appointment I went to pick up my meds from the pharmacy. I had a great conversation with the pharmacist who is awesome and on top of their game. After getting my meds, I went to the Amazon locker where my package was delivered to, to pick it up. Getting out of the apartment to do these two errands helped my mood a great deal.

Since getting home from my two errands, I have been doing some art work while listening to a podcast about philosophy. Specifically, I am coloring as I listen to the podcast, Philosophize This. Coloring and listening to Philosophize This has been quite relaxing for me. Of course, my cat, Billie Dean has been “helping” me with my coloring and he appears to be enjoying listening to Philosophize This. Spending time with my cat, Billie while doing things I enjoy is a great way to spend my day.

I do not have much more to say in this particular blog post. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you do read my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. I hope everyone has a great rest of their Tuesday. I also hope everyone has a great rest of their week with whatever you are doing. Peace Out, World!!!

Weekly Plans

Posted on by Gertie

Sunday

  • Get off work
  • Spend time with my cat Billie Dean
  • Take a nap
  • Work on a workbook or two
  • Do mindfulness or meditation practice
  • Do art work. (Most likely coloring)

Monday

  • Do mindfulness or meditation practice
  • Walk through local parks
  • Volunteer at PAWS Cat City
  • Work on a workbook or two
  • Do laundry
  • Do some form of art work (Most likely coloring)

Tuesday

  • Do a mindfulness or meditation practice
  • Phone session with my Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner for a med review
  • Get my meds
  • Clean my apartment
  • Do a workbook or two
  • Do some coloring as I am coloring something for my therapist

Wednesday

  • Do a mindfulness or meditation practice
  • Have an in person appointment with my therapist
  • Do some coloring as I am coloring something for my therapist.
  • Work on a workbook or two

Thursday

  • Do a mindfulness or meditation practice
  • Clean my apartment
  • Do some coloring as I am coloring stuff for people
  • Work on a workbook or two

Friday

  • Do a mindfulness or meditation practice
  • Do some coloring
  • Work on a workbook or two.

Saturday

  • Sleep all day
  • Work all night

Photography: Developing Your Eye I; Day Seven: Big

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! Today’s topic for the photography course I am taking through WordPress is “big.” For today’s topic I decided I would share with you my cat, Billie Dean with his big green eyes. Billie’s green eyes are one of the reasons I fell in love with him. I love my cat so very much.

My cat, Billie Dean and his big green eyes.

Mr. Sandman Never Showed Up

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! Apparently, the sandman forgot to stop by my place as I have not been able to sleep. I have been up all night and am grateful for my cat, Billie Dean’s company. Billie has been awesome company since I adopted him in February especially on sleepless night like last night.

Since my last post I watched movies. The movies I watched were under the genre of comedy as I know that humor works great to help me relax. Hopefully, relaxed enough for me to sleep even if it is for a few hours. Anyway, Billie laid on my lap as I watched the movies. I watched Little Miss Sunshine and Ted. I love both movies.

I am going to end this particular blog post in hopes that I can get some sleep. Thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you read my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. I hope everyone has a great Wednesday ahead of them. Peace Out, World!!!

Sleepless in Seattle

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! I am having a challenging time sleeping. I wish I wasn’t having difficulties sleeping but I am. When I can’t sleep I just say that I am Sleepless in Seattle since I live in Seattle and unable to sleep in honor of the movie Sleepless in Seattle. Anyway, not being able to sleep sucks shit.

Since I am unable to sleep, I have been watching late night television. I have watched both Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers. They are both extremely funny men and make late television worth watching. Being able to laugh helps make life a bit easier to live and to deal with the world around us. Something relatively new or at least I think it is new that at 1:30 in the morning a new show comes on with a woman by the name of Lilly Singh and I personally think she is funny as hell. It is also nice to see a person of color on late night television. Just wish she was on earlier. Anyway, just watching late night television helps me just deal with shit when I am unable to sleep. Being able to laugh is quite helpful for me and my mental health.

Besides watching late night television, I have been doing art work. Specifically, I have been coloring. I recently received a Day of the Dead coloring book from a friend. I am including a picture of what I colored as I started coloring it tonight and this is how far I have gotten. It is obviously not finished if you are not sight impaired. I love coloring and it helps me relax. Coloring is a type of meditation for me. For those who are sight impaired the picture of what I colored so far is below and I have included a caption with it.

A Day of the Dead coloring page I am coloring. It is not completely colored yet but I am enjoying coloring it.

Besides late night television and coloring, my cat, Billie Dean has been quite helpful for me tonight. Billie is an amazing cat. Normally he would be fighting for space on my lap as I type this blog post but he is sound to sleep on his cat tree. I love Billie so much and am beyond grateful for him. I hope he lives at least another ten years as I want him to live a long life with me. He is a great cat.

I do not have much more to say in this particular blog post so I am going to end the post. I just want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you read my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. I hope everyone has a great Wednesday ahead of them. Peace Out, World!!!